Tablet dispenser



Dec. 4, 1956 E. v. TAYLOR TAELET DISPENSER Filed April 29, 1954 United States Patent i My present invention relates in general to tablet dispensers, and, more particularly, is concerned with a combined tablet dispenser and writing instrument.

Numerous people today regularly consume saccharin, vitamin and/or aspirin tablets because of various body deficiencies or ills. A number of these tablet-s are for use in, or are to be taken with, beverages and foods. When in public, it is extremely distasteful for most people to have to remove the necessary tablet or tablets from their purse or pocket and to place it by hand in the beverage or food which is before them in preparation for consumption.

It is an object of my present invention to provide means whereby tablets of medicinal nature and the like may be inconspiciously dispensed into beverages or foods.

ln accomplishing the above object, I provide a small, elongated, tablet dispenser which may be conveniently carried in the purse or pocket. Due to the diminutiveness of the device of my present invention, it may be manipulated inconspicuously anywhere for dispensing a tablet into a beverage or food. It is a feature of my present invention that the tablet dispenser is further rendered inconspicious by fabricating it in the form of a writing instrument such as a pencil.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a tablet dispenser as noted wherein a variety of tablets of different medicinal content may be carried simultaneously, and a single tablet of the desired variety selected as required.

I accomplish the foregoing object by forming the dispenser with a plurality of columns each of which is adapted to receive a plurality of tablets. The tablets within any given column should generally be of the same medicinal content, but as between different columns, the tablets need not be of the same type. The dispenser is further provided with a single dispensing head which may be rotated into alignment with the column containing tablets of the desired type and then actuated for permitting one tablet of the selected column to drop out of the dispenser. v

It is a further feature of my present invention that the tablets are loaded into the dispenser in magazine-type channel members. With this arrangement, a magazine containing tablets of one type may be conveniently replaced by a magazine containing tablets of another type. Moreover, this arrangement in no way prohibits the supply of tablets within any given channel member from being replenished as required. e

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using tablet dispensers in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows the internal mechanism of the tablet dispenser of my present invention;

2,772,772 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 Figure 2 'is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Figure l, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows, and shows the geometric arrangement of the tablet-storing columns of the dispenser of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3 3 in Figure l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and shows the dispensing apertures formed in the lower end of the dispenser body;

Figure 4 is a side elevational View of the portion of the tablet dispenser lying between the arrows 4 4 in Figure 1; c

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a magazine-type channel member which is employed for carrying a group of tablets; and

lFigure 6 is a perspective view of a typical tablet which is adapted to be carried and dispensed from the tablet dispenser shown 'in Figure l.

Referring now'to the drawing, the small, elongated, tablet dispenser of my present invention comprises a central body member 10 which is formed with at least one longitudinally. extending opening or column 12, spaced or offset from the central longitudinal axis thereof. By way of exampleand not limitation, the body member 10 may, as shown, be cylindrical and three circumferentially spaced, generally rectangular openings or columns 12 may be formed therein. The lower end of the body mem- Aber 10 is anged inwardly for securing a rubber or fiber grommet 14 thereat.

The body openings 12 are adapted to receive tablet receptacles or magazine-type channel members 16. The tablet receptacles 16, as shown in Figure 5, are formed of generally C-shaped channel members with the ends of the parallel sides being bent inwardly at 18 to confine tablets therewithin. The cross-sectional shape of the channel members may. be varied to accommodate various shaped tablets, pills or capsules. The tablet receptacles '16 are supported at their lower ends on the grommet 14. As shown in Figures l and 5, the inwardly bent portions 18 of the tablet receptacles 16 are cut away at their lower ends. The yends of the tablet receptacles 16 adjacent the cut away portions register with dispensing apertures 20 formed in the sidewall of the body member 10.

Although tablets might be stored directly in the openings or columns 12, I have found it to be more convenient to load tablets into thedispenser in magazine-type channel members. Specifically, with this arrangement a magazine containing tablets of one type may be conveniently replaced by a magazine containing tablets of another type. vThus interchangeability of tablets is greatly facilitated through the use of the tablet receptacles 16.

An actuator 22 is slidably mounted'in, and extends axially through, the center of the body member 10 and the grommet 14. The lowerend of the actuator 22 is secured by means of a pin member 24 in the axial bore 26 of a base member 28 which serves to support the writing mechanism of a pencil or pen. In the specific embodiment of my present invention shown in the drawing, pencilv writing mechanism is associated with the base member 28. The inner end of a piece of 4lead 30 is received in the axial bore 32 of the base 28 which is aligned with the axial bore 26. The lead 30 extends axially through the center of a split-cone expanding collet 34 which is adjustably maintained in gripping engagement with the lead 30 by means of a collar member 36 threaded onto the base member 28.

The upper end of the base member 28, which normally abuts the lgrommet 14, is formed with a radially outwardly projecting flange 38, the underside of which engages a radially inwardly projecting flange 40 of a sleeve member or dispensing head 42 that is arranged for sliding and rotary movement on the body member 10. The sleeve member 42 is Vformed with a dispensing aper- E ture 4d in the side thereof. The flanges 33 and 40 are held together by a collar member 46 that is threaded onto the base member 28.

The upper endof the actuator 22 has secured thereon, by means of a pin 4-7, a cap member 48 the latter of which projects through a cover member threaded onto the upper end of the body member 10. The actuator 22 further has disposed thereabout a coil spring 50 which extends between the radially projecting'shoulder 52 of the cap member .48 and the top of the body member 10. The spring 50 serves to maintain the parts of the tablet dispenser in the relative positions shown in Figure l. So that the combined tablet dispenser and writing instrument may be conveniently carried about in a pocket, a suitab-le spring clip member 54 is aixed to theA side of the body member 10. Since the dispenser is diminutive, it may be manipulated inconspicuously anywhere for dispensing tablets into beverages and foods. The dispenser is further rendered inconspicuous by its fabrication in the form of a common larticle such as Ya writing instrument.

In assembling the combined tablet dispenser andwriting instrument or my present invention, the grommet 14 is placed in the lower end Vof the body member and the edge of the latter is flanged over for securing the grommet in position. At this point the cap member 48 may be placed over the actuator 22 and the pin 47 slid into place. Then the spring y5() may be disposed aboutV the actuator 22 and the latter inserted through the central opening in the body member 10, with the cover member 50 being subsequently threaded into position.

The lower end of the device of my present invention may be assembled by inserting the base member 28 about the lower end of the actuator 22 an-d inserting the pin 24 through the latter. At this stage of assembly, the sleeve member or dispensing head 42 may be moved over the base member 28 and the collar member 46 threaded into position. Finally, the writing mechanism may be arranged on the base member Z8 by holding the collet 34 at the lower end of the base member 28 while the collar member 36 is threaded into position.

ln loading tablets into kthe dispenser, the cover member 49, pin member 47, cap member 48, and spring 50 are removed from the upper end of the actuator 22. Then tablet receptacles 16, with a supply of tablets, are placed in the columns or openings 12, after which the spring 50, cap member 48, pin 47 an-d cover member 49 may be reassembled. The receptacles 16 are adapted to carry saccharin, vitamin and/or aspirin tablets, capsules or pills, such as -for example as shown at 60 in Figure 6. The receptacles or cartridges 16 are, of course, adapted to be sold in loaded form ready for use.

It should be recognized that each of the three tablet receptacles 16 may be lilled with a group of tablets of medicinal content different than the group of tablets contained in the otherY receptacles. kConsequently a variety of tablets of dierent medicinal con-tent may be carried simultaneously and a single tablet of the desired variety selected as required.

Tablets 6G contained within the tablet receptacles 16 may be dispensed therefrom as follows. The sleeve member or dispensing ,head 42 is irst rotated until the dispensing aperture 44;! is aligned with one of the openings 12 immediately above one of the apertures 20 formed in the sideiof the body member 10. Thereupon, the upper end of the actuator 22 may be -depressed for moving the latter downwardly relative to `the body member .10. This action on the actuatorZZ causes the base member 28 and dispensing head V42 to move downwardly relative to the body member 1t) whereupon the dispensing aperture 4 4 in the dispensing head 42 is moved into register with lthe adjacent aperture V in the'side wall of the body member lil. Then the dispensing unit need only be tilted at an angle -to permit the lowermost tablet 60 aligned with the apertures 20 and 44 to d rop ,from the selected opening ,and magazine in the dispenser.

After the tablet 60 has dropped from the dispenser, the upper end of the actuator 22 may be released and the spring will 'cause the actuator 20 anddis'pensing head 42 to move back to theV positions shown in Figure 1. Simultaneously the group of tablets within the column from which one tablet had just been removed, Will move downwardly as soon as the tablet dispenser is returned to a substantia-lly vertical position. The dispensing operation then may be repeated until the desired number of tablets have been ejected.

Now while l have shown and described what I be lieve to be a preferred embodiment of my present invention, it will be understood that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

l claim:

l. A tablet dispenser comprising a cylindrical body member having a plurality of longitudinal openings formed therethrough with the axes of the latter being spaced from the central axis of the body member, closure means at lthe lower end of said body member, each of said longitudinal openings being adapted to receive a plurality of tablets, said body member having apertures in the wall thereof communicating respectively with the longitudinal openings, a tubular dispensing head slidably and rotatably mounted on the lower end of said body member and having an aperture therein, an actuator member extending through the longitudinal center of said body member and said closure means, means connecting the lower end of said actuator member to said dispensing head, spring means mounted between said body member and said actuatorV for normally maintaining said dispensing head in a position where the aperture therein is out of register with the apertures in said body member, said actuator and dispensing head being manually rotatable relative te said body member so as to permit the aperture in the latter to be brought into alignment with any one of the longitudinal openings, and said actuator when manually depressed serving to shift said dispensing head axially relative to said body member for moving the aperture in the latter into register with the adjacent aperture in the body member so as to permit a tablet to drop from the selected opening in the body member and through the apertures in register upon tilting of the tablet dispenser.

2. A tablet dispenser comprising a cylindrical body member having a plurality of longitudinal openings formed therethrough with the latter being spaced from the central longitudinal axis of the body member, closure means at the lower end of said body member, a replaceable magazine-type tablet carrying channel member disposed in each of said longitudinal openings, each of said channel members being adapted to carry a plurality of tablets, said body member having apertures in the wall thereof communicating respectively with the longitudinal openings and the magazine-type tablet carrying channel members, a tubular dispensing head slidably and rotatably mounted on the lower end of said body member and having an aperture therein, an actuator member extending through the longitudinal center of said bodymember and said closure means along the central longitudinal axis of the latter, Vmeans connecting the lower end of said actuator member to said dispensing head, spring means mounted between said body member and said actuator for normally maintaining said dispensing head in a position where the aperture therein is out of register with the apertures in said body member, said actuator and dispensing head being manually rotatable relative to said body member so as to permit the aperture in the latter to be brought into alignment with any of the longitudinal openings, and said actuator when manually depressed serving to shift said dispensing head axially relative to said body member for moving the aperture in the latter into register with the adjacent aperture in the body member so as to permit a tablet to drop from the selected magazine-type tablet carrying Vchannel member and 5 through the apertures in register upon tilting of the tablet 1,980,819 dispenser. 2,148,721 2,353,629 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,001 Bergen May 23, 1893 161,145 1,737,643 Conner Dec. 3, 1929 6 Nelson Nov. 13, 1934 Avstreh Feb. 28, 1939 Apfelbaum July 18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1922 

